make a proposal. I am willing to take charge of you, Jupe, and to educate you and provide for you. The only condition (over and above your good behaviour) I make is that you decide now, at once, whether to accompany me or remain here. Also, that if you accompany me now, it is understood that you communicate no more with any of your friends who are here present. These observations comprise the whole of the case.”

“At the thame time,” said Sleary, “I mutht put in my word, Thquire, tho that both thides of the banner may be equally theen. If you like, Thethilia, to be ’prentitht, you know the natur of the work and you know your companionth. Emma Gordon, in whothe lap you’re a-lying at prethent, would be a mother to you, and Joth’phine would be a thither to you. I don’t pretend to be of the angel breed mythelf, and I don’t thay but what, when you mith’d your tip, you’d find me cut up rough and thwear an oath or two at you. But what I thay, Thquire, ith that, good tempered or bad tempered, I never did a horthe a injury yet, no more than thwearing at him went, and that I don’t expect I thall begin otherwithe at my time of life with a rider. I never wath much of a cackler, Thquire, and I have thed my thay.”

The latter part of this speech was addressed to Mr. Gradgrind, who received it with a grave inclination of his head, and then remarked:

“The only observation I will make to you, Jupe, in the way of influencing your decision is, that it is highly desirable to have a sound practical education, and that even your father himself, from what I understand, appears, on your behalf, to have known and felt that much.”

The last words had a visible effect upon her. She stopped in her wild crying, a little detached herself from Emma Gordon, and turned her face full upon her patron. The whole company perceived the force of the change, and drew a long breath together that plainly said, “She will go!”

“Be sure you know your own mind, Jupe,” Mr. Gradgrind cautioned her. “I say no more. Be sure you know your own mind!”

“When Father comes back,” cried the girl, bursting into tears again after a minute’s silence, “how will he ever find me if I go away?”

“You may be quite at ease,” said Mr. Gradgrind, calmly; he worked out the whole matter like a sum: “You may be quite at ease, Jupe, on that score. In such a case, your father, I apprehend, must find out Mr.——”

“Thleary. Thath my name, Thquire. Not athamed of it. Known all over England, and alwayth payth hith way.”

“Must find out Mr. Sleary, who would then let him know where you went. I should have no power of keeping you against his wish, and he would have no difficulty at any time in finding Mr. Thomas Gradgrind of Coketown. I am well known.”

“Well known,” assented Mr. Sleary, rolling his loose eye. “You’re one of the thort, Thquire, that keepth a prethiouth thight of money out of the houthe. But never mind that at prethent.”

There was another silence, and then she exclaimed, sobbing with her hands before her face, “Oh, give me my clothes, give me my clothes, and let me go away before I break my heart!”

The women sadly bestirred themselves to get the clothes together—it was soon done, for they were not many—and to pack them in a basket which had often travelled with them. Sissy sat all the time upon the ground, still sobbing and covering her eyes. Mr. Gradgrind and his friend Bounderby stood near the door, ready to take her away. Mr. Sleary stood in the middle of the room, with the male members of the company about him, exactly as he would have stood in the centre of the ring during his daughter Josephine’s performance. He wanted nothing but his whip.

The basket packed in silence, they brought her bonnet to her, and smoothed her disordered hair, and put it on. Then they pressed about her and bent over her in very natural attitudes, kissing and embracing her; and brought the children to take leave of her; and were a tender-hearted, simple, foolish set of women altogether.

“Now, Jupe,” said Mr. Gradgrind, “if you are quite determined, come!”

But she had to take her farewell of the male part of the company yet, and every one of them